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Nancy Lake State Recreation Area

Description | Ratings

Trails: 16 km (10 miles) of trails are reserved for cross-country skiing, but may not be groomed. Birch Pond Lodge also grroms a few miles of trails that connect with the Nancy Lake trails. About 33 km (20 miles) of other trails are shared with snowmobiles and mushers.
Caution: There is often water on top of the frozen surfaces of lakes, ponds and streams hidden by snow.
Trail fees: Parking fee
Tel: Nancy Lake Ranger Station 907-495-6273, DNR PIC (Fairbanks) 907-451-2705
Snow report: Cross Country Alaska
Nearest town: Wasilla, AK
Web site: Nancy Lake SRA | Birch Pond Lodge
Trail map: Available on the park's website
Equipment rentals: No
Ski lessons: No
Other winter activities: Snowmobiling, snowshoeing
Facilities: None
Lodging on site: Birch Pond Lodge Birch Pond Lodge has rooms and two cabins. There are also 12 rustic backcountry cabins for rent from the state.
Lodging nearby: Palmer has a few hotels and other accommodations
Location of trails: Nancy Lake is about 75 minutes north of Anchorage, just south of the community of Willow.
Tourism info: Matanuska-Susitna CVB
Weather forecast: Wasilla
Map of local region: Wasilla area

Rate this XC Area

Number of ratings: 1
Average rating: 4.00  

Name of area: Nancy Lake State Recreation Area
Times that I have skied there: A few times
I last skied there in: Mar, 2002
Trails that I skied: Rhein Lake, Jano Pond
My favorite trails: Jano Pond - nice long open country ski
Trail marking: Fair
Trail grooming: Fair
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: These trails wind through beautiful lake, marsh and birch forest contry with some hills for variety. These very peaceful, little traveled trails are perfect for a relaxed ski and ski picnic. Snow conditions are much more stable than in Anchorage as the weather is a bit colder and sunnier.
What I disliked: Grooming will be improved this year as Birch Pond Lodge (a new nordic ski lodge) located on the northern boundary of Nancy Lakes State Park will be doing some grooming of the Rhein Lake and Jano Pond Loops.
Comments: Only hazards are possible moose confrontations and questionable lake ice conditions. These trails however are located on ground or marsh.
Submitted by: Bill
from: Anchorge
Date submitted: Dec 12, 2002

Rate this XC Area